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The rise of ride-hailing companies like Uber and Lyft have placed a large number of vehicles on the road taking passengers back and forth to destinations all over. These vehicles and services range far and wide from San Francisco to Miami and even abroad. With these vehicles on the road comes the risk of car accidents. If you’re involved in an accident involving an Uber or Lyft vehicle, you may be wondering how to file a car accident claim.
When someone gets into a car accident involving an Uber or Lyft vehicle that may be at fault then the first issue to address is determining liability. The liability in these accidents depends entirely on the circumstances which can make the liable party vary pretty greatly. On top of that, an Uber/Lyft accident claimant must prove that the liable party was negligent.
By proving that the driver was negligent, a plaintiff can make a case for receiving compensation for damages they incurred from the accident. This goes for passengers of an Uber or Lyft vehicle as well as drivers of vehicles that an Uber or Lyft vehicle collides with.
In order to best pursue legal action after an Uber or Lyft accident, consider hiring an experienced Uber and Lyft accident attorney. They can significantly increase the chances of your claim getting you the level of compensation that you need. Experienced Uber and Lyft car accident lawyers like Sand Law have resources to help you:
It is important to note that Ubers and Lyfts are not taxis and are not legally considered taxi services. This means that the kind of liability that one would expect with a taxi accident claim is not applicable to a car accident claim involving an Uber or Lyft. Uber and Lyft are not considered taxi or private transport companies and instead are considered software companies. They simply provide an app that allows people to hail rides from individual drivers. Uber and Lyft do not directly hire their drivers and instead the drivers are considered more like independent contractors.
Uber and Lyft maintain accountability for drivers using the apps by providing insurance coverage depending on the circumstances of the accident. So you can’t sue Uber or Lyft as an employer of their drivers like one might sue a taxi or trucking company. But you will still have a certain level of insurance coverage to draw from.
The level of insurance coverage that someone may be afforded by Uber and Lyft should they be involved in an accident with an affiliated vehicle depends on the circumstances of the accident. There are three scenarios in which a person may find themselves in when it comes to Uber and Lyft accidents.
Uber and Lyft claim no liability when a driver is driving their vehicle for personal use without the app on and active. Since the vehicle is being driven for personal use, an accident with that vehicle would be no different from any other individual car accident.
When an Uber or Lyft is waiting for a ride request they may become involved in an accident and have limited coverage afforded by Uber and Lyft. The Uber or Lyft would have third party liability coverage when the Uber or Lyft is at fault. Should an Uber or Lyft cause an accident in this scenario, the other party would receive the following coverage:
The Uber or Lyft driver would have to go through their own insurance since it was their fault. They would also not receive any coverage from Uber or Lyft if it wasn’t their fault either.
Uber will extend coverage for an accident if:
There is third party liability coverage for the other parties involved should the Uber or Lyft driver be at fault. Coverage is at least $1 million per accident.
Uber and Lyft will also provide uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage. The driver and anyone in the Uber or Lyft during an accident caused by another driver are covered when there is insufficient insurance for at least $1 million.
If you’ve suffered injuries in an Uber or Lyft car accident, you could be entitled to compensation. You could have been involved in an accident where you collided with an Uber or Lyft vehicle. Or even have been a passenger using the Uber or Lyft ride-hailing service. Regardless, you need an experienced lawyer to secure compensation for any damages you may have suffered.
Contact Sand Law about a possible car accident injury claim. We can discuss how we can assist you in seeking compensation for your injuries. Your primary concern should be recovery and we understand that balancing that with an injury claim can be difficult. Allow us to represent you and help secure a settlement you are comfortable with while you heal. Contact us online or call at (651) 291-7263.
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